Out of choice I am going to look at replacing my 2 front tyre's over the next couple of months as the Ultragrip ditch finders are just too scary. My question is this - my spare wheel is brand new and unused as has a Contisportcontact tyre fitted to it, now do they still make these tyre's (I know they do 2's, 3's, 5's etc) but do they still make the original tyre that was fitted as standard from factory? If so I was thinking of fitting my spare wheel then i'd only have to buy 1 new tyre. Also would the orginal tyre fitted still be ok to use after 9 years?

Cheers

H

I don't think that tyre is still available as they have produced the next gen 3 and 5, but you could check the Continental website or ask your local tyre fitter.

As for the question of whether the spare will be ok.

If it has been kept in the boot and not in sunlight then the chances are it will be fine.

I should take it out and inspect it carefully.

If there are no signs of cracking or decay of the sidewalls or tread, then it should be OK.

It's still going to have been cooked in Summer and frozen in Winter for 9 years. I'd keep the Contisport 1 as a spare and nothing else (it's what I'm doing with my Michelin spare).

Just get a couple of Khumo's from camskill. Cheapest place i could find.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s16p0/Car_Tyres_-_MPV_Tyres_-_People_Carrier_Tyres_-_17%5C_inch_R17_inch_-_225_45_17_225_45_R_17

Don't get kumhos! Got a pair last year they only lasted 7 months before they were down to tho wear indicators! Thought id save money too but it didn't work out. Gonna go for the Falken 452 when I put my summers back on

My car came with Conti-sport Contact 1's years ago, ive kept with Conti-sport tyres (now run on Contact 3's).

They are not the cheapest tyre around but I find they hang on in the wet and dry very well and as I dont do many miles now they seem to be lasting well.

I guess its what you feel happy with, there are enough different types/prices out there to suit everyones driving style/pocket.

Finally, as its your only contact with, (what is loosely referred to as a road these days) choose carefully.

Good Luck

Nope, conti don't make them anymore. I had the same idea as you, but then realised the only ones I could get hold are the old ones that have been in peoples boots for years. Some of them will be up to 10 years old now, which I personally wouldn't want to use.

I'm 80% sure I'm gonna go for a pair of neuton nt8000 tyres next. They seem to get good remarks on forums and at 137 quid delivered vs 150 for the Falkens seem a good buy and worth a try

I'm 80% sure I'm gonna go for a pair of neuton nt8000 tyres next. They seem to get good remarks on forums and at 137 quid delivered vs 150 for the Falkens seem a good buy and worth a try

its what i am going for at the end of the month too

I can highly recommend the Neutons Lads as had 4 fitted to my Siggy. Great tyres and Neo Bros are only 5 mins from my work and I know them well from the Vec/Siggy scene.

I can highly recommend the Neutons Lads as had 4 fitted to my Siggy. Great tyres and Neo Bros are only 5 mins from my work and I know them well from the Vec/Siggy scene.

Found the cheapest place for them is lovetyres.com, £137 delivered. Neo bros are more expensive on their ebay site

edit! That's for a pair lol

Give Neo's a call Raf, They are usually very helpful and may even price match.

Give Neo's a call Raf, They are usually very helpful and may even price match.

Good idea m8, will do closer to the time

I've got matador mp46's all round now, apparently there conti's in disguise

Not sure about wear as i swopped the rears onto front when last set of ditch finders were shot and put new tyres on back then i don't get the nice drumming noise when they step rear tyres off

I've been running my spare tyre for a couple of weeks now. It was the original Contisport Contact that came with the car. I've had the car from new and this is the first time the tyre has seen daylight . It was on the nearside front as the Hankook I normally run needed turning round - a local tyre fitter put it on back to front.

I can say in all honesty that it has been the scariest two weeks driving I've had in years! The differerence between the grip levels of the two tyres was amazing. In the dry there has been a bit of noticeable understeer, but in the wet there has been next to no grip and it's not been pleasant at all. During overtakes, the traction control has been flickering even in 3rd gear where normally the Hankooks grip very well. I've had to drive like Miss Daisy for fear of ending up in a ditch. Don't use the Continental is my advice, it's too old and won't have anywhere near the grip it might have had when new. Having said that, I found them pretty poor even when the car was new. They lasted ages, but didn't grip in the cold, wet or damp. Reviews on the new gen versions seem to report better performance, but they should for the price.

oe tyres are normally never the same compound you buy as aftermarket - tyre manufacturers are all bending over backwards to win tyre contracts - this means cheap prices for a reason

Plus the older rubber will have degraded overtime, and be less "grippy" thus giving the performance issues mentioned above.

Spare tyres should only be used in an emergency or to get the car through an MOT once they are a few years old - even if they have been stored in the dark - imho.

I've been running my spare tyre for a couple of weeks now. It was the original Contisport Contact that came with the car. I've had the car from new and this is the first time the tyre has seen daylight . It was on the nearside front as the Hankook I normally run needed turning round - a local tyre fitter put it on back to front.

I can say in all honesty that it has been the scariest two weeks driving I've had in years! The differerence between the grip levels of the two tyres was amazing. In the dry there has been a bit of noticeable understeer, but in the wet there has been next to no grip and it's not been pleasant at all. During overtakes, the traction control has been flickering even in 3rd gear where normally the Hankooks grip very well. I've had to drive like Miss Daisy for fear of ending up in a ditch. Don't use the Continental is my advice, it's too old and won't have anywhere near the grip it might have had when new. Having said that, I found them pretty poor even when the car was new. They lasted ages, but didn't grip in the cold, wet or damp. Reviews on the new gen versions seem to report better performance, but they should for the price.

Senisible advice there, I found out the same when I had to use my spare for a week. My car had the conti spare on, and unbeknown to me at the time, a 9 year old Dunlop sport tyre on which had splits all round the back side of it. To say it was an interesting ride is an understatement. Swapped for KU31's all round and it transformed the car.

Plus the older rubber will have degraded overtime, and be less "grippy" thus giving the performance issues mentioned above.

Spare tyres should only be used in an emergency or to get the car through an MOT once they are a few years old - even if they have been stored in the dark - imho.

I think rubber hardens as it ages, especially when it isn't flexed, as that's what pumps the lubricant through it. That's why tyres are reddish on the back where they never get washed.

Have a look at this website great prices, and do delivery! I got 225/40/18 Falken 912 for £280.00 for 4. I didn't want the 452!! Let me know what you think about their pricing as I believe these guys are one the the cheapest out there.

View Basket new car, van & 4x4 tyres Budget Tyres All New Tyres .htm

I think mine were conti sport contact 2.

Shocking tire could spin wheels in first second and third.

I swiftly changed them for verdistein ultrac. Best tires I have had.